Yep, Jackson threw a pencil, hit Clay in the eye, and left us wondering - hmmm, should we take him to the ER? I think he's ok. I don't think they'll do anything for it. But it's his eye. You kinda need your eyes. Maybe we should have it looked at just in case. They'll probably give him some drops or something.

Anyway, we erred on the side of caution like usual and were told that Clay doesn't need to be a pirate. His eye is ok; just has an abrasion. He needs antibiotic drops.

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OK, next. My design team is coming up with the most awesome, amazing ideas for my website. I'm so excited about it and can't wait til it's ready to launch! You guys are going to love it, I just know it! Eeeeeee!

Anyway, first off, bookmark BecauseISaidSo.com so you don't lose me when I switch over (it'll probably be a couple months before it's official). And secondly, would you guys be so helpful as to take a minute and leave me a comment with your 3 favorite mom-type websites? I know you adore my blog (wink wink) but don't list that as one of your faves. Tell me your top three favorite mom sites besides my blog. For example, babcenter.com or goodhousekeeping.com, etc. What sites do you love to visit? I'll choose a random winner from all the entries and they'll receive a set of Wonder Pets beaniesand a $75 gift card courtesy of Angie at Good for the Kids!

And now for Sunday Sound Out!

Did you find anything exciting on the memory card? Was the watch still keeping time? Just wondering!Sandy, HE, Illinois

I found about 200 pictures on the memory card, but I'd already put them on my computer so nothing new and exciting. And nope, my watch was definitely not keeping time anymore.

How old is Brooklyn?canadiancarrie

Two

That is too funny...although I'm sure it wasn't at the time....Let me ask you this, does blogging take the place of the therapy one would need after raising children? LOL....at least you can look back and make light of it later, huh?By Kristy

Since I've been blogging, I totally look at things differently. Instead of freaking out over things, now I grab my camera. I guess you could call it therapy. It's sure a lot cheaper!

What do you do when Brooklyn throws a never-ending tantrum?

She hasn't done that because we just give her whatever she wants in order to avoid the screaming. Honestly, toddler tantrums don't phase me at all anymore. It's small potatoes compared to other stuff that goes on as the kids get older. Don't get me wrong though - back when I just had one or two kids, those tantrums used to seriously stress me out.

...I thought of you - 1) You haven't (apparently) struggled with lack of fertility and 2) Aren't you soon due for another yourself?Holly Maudsley

It took me over a year to get pregnant with Austin. I was beginning to freak out that I'd never have kids and I was just starting down the path of infertility treatment. I conceived the next 5 when Joe breathed on me, hung his toothbrush too close to mine, used the same toilet seat, drank out of my cup, and simply looked at me.

You mentioned that Austin also threw a few fits when he was younger. Just curious....When did Austin outgrow the fits? What did you do to handle him during that trying time? Are the rest of your kids fairly calm? Hey, I noticed that you call PJ's (pajama's), jammies. Is that a Chicago thing? I'd love to hear all the unique words that are heard in Chicago. I'll give you a whole list of Texas-isms.Thanks for the laughs!!~Lisa, San Antonio, Texas

I don't remember when Austin outgrew his tantrums. We had to put him in his room when he was throwing a fit. While there, he'd take all the sheets off his bed, then he'd pull the mattress off the frame; he'd empty all his dresser drawers and pull down curtains; and he'd empty his toybox of all toys. I'd actually blocked that from my memory forgotten all about that! Wow, good times, good times.

As far as "jammies" goes, I didn't know that was a regional thing. I thought everyone called pajamas "jammies". Here's a regional saying that cracks me up: apparently people from the south say, "The kids were playing in the floor" instead of playing ON the floor. How do you play IN the floor?

I know Austin lives to gross out people with his sandwich combinations. Yesterday he ate a sandwich of a cold, fruit/whipped cream (ambrosia-like) salad on French bread.

The sardine one doesn't sound that weird (maybe it's cultural thing, here in the UK that's a pretty common sandwich filling =) but the others.. Wow! I like pineapple and cheese on sticks but as a sandwich? With OLIVES?! =XBy Lizzy

Pineapple and cheese on sticks? OK, I'm thinking that sticks means something other than sticks (as in branches off a tree). Explanation?

I HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR YOU!!! A few weeks ago you mentioned in a post that you couldn't get your scanner to work with vista. I was having the same problem and have now figured out how to do it. Open Windows Photo Gallery, go to File>Import from scanner or camera. As long as your scanner is connected to your computer you can scan! YEA!By Darla

LOL! Ummm thanks, but I wrote that August 20th and I gave my scanner to my neighbor about 10 months ago. Thanks for thinking of me though!

Does yours have a list of recipes for invalids too?I love reading cookbooks- this is just one example why.By Kikilia

No, it doesn't and I'm inexplicably bummed about it.

Oh......... Looks very proffessional! Will you come and caulk mine. You are so good at it.I'll order the caulk for you. There will be chocolate.By Brenda

Chocolate? Chocolate? Did someone say CHOCOLATE? I'm so there!

When I signed up for the caulk single, it asked for my birthdate. Is there illegal underage caulking going on that we didn't know about?! Who'da known?By sandnmyshooz

Underage caulking is no laughing matter. It's serious. If you think it can't happen to you, you're wrong. Underage caulking can happen anywhere, in any town, and to any family. Always know what your kids are up to!

So I after I use my fancy-dancy finger to smooth it out, how do I correctly clean it off? (I figure I should find out before I try tackling my shower on my own.)By Pangolin

I don't know, but I'm going to try licking mine the next time.

WOW What a great job are you sure that you werent a plumber in a previous life??????By roseys madhouse

Ahhh, there's the difference. I keep going to doctors in hopes that I don't get pregnant again.

Oh yeah - my new doctor (we'll call him Dr. L) called me the very next day to discuss my blood test results. Do you understand what I'm saying? HE called me HIMSELF to DISCUSS the results! He didn't have a nurse call. He didn't just say, "Oh yeah, everything is fine." He's a keeper. And yes, everything is fine. I attribute it to my wonderful lifestyle luck and genetics.

Sunday sound out Q: Who is the most trouble making, hard to deal with, kid? (If not all of them) (Hee Hee!) :DBy Anonymous

They each have their issues and annoying behaviors. Thankfully, they also each have their own strong points and awesome behaviors.

I don't recommend going to the doctor when you're dead. You'll stink up the whole office and make it uncomfortable for the rest of us non-zombie types.By Rick

LOL! Thanks Rick. I'll keep that in mind.

PS - do you use an external mouse or do you use the touch screen on your laptop all the time? I had carpel tunnel until I switched back to a mouse - it's MUCH better now.By Anonymous

I use the touch pad that I swore I'd never get used to. It's second nature now. My doctor told me to take a vitamin B complex to help with the carpel tunnel. What he didn't say was that my urine was going to turn neon yellow. It's a very funky thing. Sooo, if you want to do a stupid human trick and pee unnatural colors, take a vitamin B complex. I'm not a doctor, but I play one online. Please check with your own real doctor before taking anything to make you pee a rainbow.

Okay, I tried a million times to leave this comment on the SSO post, but unsuccessfully...I really must know, and it fits under "medical"--maybe a SSO question? You mention you had migraines before you had kids. Does that mean they went away after? Because it is the reverse for me. Between pregnancy, lactation, and not sleeping more than two hours in a row for eleven months, my migraines went from twice a year to twice a week. So my question is, do you have some secret? Did you make some healthy, drastic lifestyle change? Did the hormones just work out for you? Or is it that mommies just aren't allowed to get a headache and spend twelve hours in a dark, quiet place? Please share your secret, Doctor Dawn. :)By Anonymous

Sorry to disappoint, but they just kinda went away after I had my first kid. I still get really bad, make-you-throw-up headaches, but now it's only a few times a year. It used to be twice a month. I wish I had a secret cure to tell you because I know migraines really suck.

Was that the Brookfield Zoo? I haven't been there in a while!By Mere

Yep. We got a membership so we can go whenever we want. We just pack a lunch and head off for a couple hours. It's nice because we don't feel like we have to cover the entire zoo in a single visit. (It's a big zoo!)

I take my kids out for the exact same reason! They forget to fight when other people are around. LOLWhat other exciting things do you have planned for the kids?Our town does Concerts in the Park, so we take the kids there (FREE!) and we also do the Wednesday movies for $2!!!By BoufMom9

We plan on doing some camping (oh joy), going to Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the water park, maybe Six Flags (the kids earned tickets in school), nature center, and we have those cheap Wednesday morning movies too!Aahhh! They took the fountain out? Why would they do that?!?!By Colleen

To make room for the human exhibit, of course! They also tore down Ibex Island that's been there since 1936! They're putting bears in that space now.i think Jackson's tongue is hanging out because he's getting gored in the neck by a buffalo horn.By lisa

After I published the blog post, I enlarged the photos and noticed that. Goofball. That's exactly what he was doing.

It's amazing you've made it to adulthood being as stupid as you are, Mom.

Looks like a fun time!!!!!!! Did Joe go too or did you tough it out alone? If so I will give you a gold star!!!!!!!!By plainprecious

Nah, he was working. Just me and the kiddos. Can my gold star say "Sheriff"?

Ok, I know this is way off topic, but I LOVE the Curious George shoes!!! Where did you find them? I have 2 boys who need those!!! (yes, I know I get inappropriately excited over stupid mommy things...)By Heather

LOL! I got excited when I found them too! I got them at my favorite store - Target.

I wanna go to Brookfield Zoooooooooo! I miss Olga the walrus - is she still there? She'd be what, 40 years old by now?

The walrus has a name? You know the walrus's name? The walrus's name is OLGA??? Hmmm, I guess I have to pay more attention to the signs the next time I go to the zoo. And to answer your question, I have no idea. We didn't make it over to the swimming animals the other day. I'll check next time.

Your kids really are adorable. Did you pay them to take those cute pics so people wouldn't think that they are heathens?By jezebelskAbsolutely!

So, is Austin taller than you?

By Margaret

No. No! Really no! Honestly, he isn't! Neither is Savannah. For real! They are, most emphatically, NOT taller than me.

We're the same height, see? Not taller! The same!

I have a question. Awhile back you posted about a program to download that lets you blog without using the blogger tools. Another program that lets you do more and not put the pictures on backwards! I downloaded it and love it, but I took my computer in for repairs and clean up and it isn't in my tool bar anymore! Can you remind me what you are using and what I was using!! Pamfellow mom of six!By Pam

Thanks for the fun posts. I am so glad your little Brooklyn wears her socks! :)Best Wishes,Stacey By Beaded Socks

How on earth could you tell she was wearing those socks? Wow! And yes, she loves her "jingly socks"! Thank you! (If you've got a little girl, check out the link for these cute beaded socks! They're adorable!)

I have a question for you. How do you handle the situation when someone else's kid is being mean to your child/children. We ran into this at our local zoo recently. A boy was intentionally trying to ram a stroller into my 3 year old as we walked passed him. His parents were oblivious and only heard me say to him that wasn't very nice. Am I right for correcting someone else's child or should I have just talked to my kids about his behavior later? I just wanted someone else's thoughts about this.Thanks. ShannonBy Shanana73

I tell my kids to bite or kick the offending child. That'll show him to mess with my kids!

Actually, I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. I don't usually get into it though. I generally walk away and say something to my kids like, "See? That's why I tell you to behave! So you don't turn into a little punk like that," at which point they roll their eyes at me.

Remember - please leave me a comment when you have a minute, with your top three favorite mom sites. I'll pick a random winner on Friday and they'll get a set of Wonder Pet beanies and a $75 gift card good for merchandise at Good for the Kids, courtesy of Angie!!!

246 comments:

Honestly, YOUR blog is the only one I read on a daily basis, but here are a few that I like to peruse occasionally:

ROCKS IN MY DRYER: http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/

BOO MAMA:http://boomama.net/

PARENT DISHhttp://www.parentdish.com/-- Actually, I'm not really a fan of them anymore -- too many snarky commenters and inflammatory posts -- but it is one that I used to read quite often and there are still a couple of really good bloggers on there.

1. www.kellymom.com - this website helps moms with nursing.2. www.babysigns.com - for anybody who wants to help thier baby learn some sign language.3. www.kozypalcartcovers.com - I think all babies that use commercial high chairs or shopping carts should have one of these; plus they make great gifts!

Those are the top 4 that I visit other than yours. two are very snarky and give me something to giggle about. also the fact that I know ( know or related to) all the kids in them. My moms site... well she writes about life and my family and my sisters family... and it is neat to see "us" through her eyes. the other is a mom that is going through scary tiems. I did the same when mine were little. takes me back and I hope that with a little word ehre or there we will be able to help her through.

I don't know how to bookmark becauseisaidso.com because when I put that address in, it automatically goes to your blogspot.com site. But don't worry, I'll REMEMBER to go to your .com address if your blogspot.com fails to appear.Sandy, HE, Illinois

I absolutely love mothering.com, and even though it's based on something else, I've gotten a ton of "mama" info from sewingmamas.com. I always get interrupted by the kiddos before I get to a third site, though...

www.audreycaroline.blogspot.comwww.moneysavingmom.comwww.ebay.com (okay, so it's not exactly a "mom" site, but it is where I go to find expensive Christmas gifts for my children at relatively cheap prices!

I check out several sites at least once a day to get a laugh and know that someone else is out there having the same issues as I am. Besides yours, I love to read http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.comhttp://boomama.netand a friend of a friend has a great site out there with awesome baby products at http://thepitterpatterboutique.com

I love your blog and do not often comment, just love to read it, but for the 3 favorite mom sites:

Babycenter: www.babycenter.comHave liked them since my kids were babies and still find good information.

ivillage: www.ivillage.com They have a great section in their message boards for military wives, and with my husband deployed to Kuwait for almost a year now, that sight has been great.

Milspouse: ww.milspouse.com They are great because there are great articles as well for those military wives (moms) out there.

I also want to take a minute right now to truly thank you I know many people tell you how much they love to read what you blog, etc, but I have to thank you because it is your blog each day that has made me believe that I can get through my husbands one year deployment to Kuwait and we are almost there, I got the best Fathers Day present of all they are leaving Kuwait and I should have him back in my arms by the end of this up coming week. Thank you so much!!

hmmm...1) www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com - I sometimes read her writing to help me fine tune my discipline techniques2) www.hillbillyhousewife.com - I don't use much of this mostly because we are a strict GFCF household but I have friends who love this and swear by it.3) www.menus4moms.com - I used to use this pre-GFCF. They send you a menu and shopping list for five nights of dinners. It was a life saver when I had two 2 year olds and no time to think.I know you asked for 3 but this one is the BOMB:4)www.thehousethatcleansitself.com - This woman's ideas are pretty ingenius and will provide you with many, "Duh, why dodn't I think of that?" moments. She wrote a book by the same name.

Calling them "jammies" is not a regional thing. I also call them jamma-wammas sometimes! I think it's just like saying "sockies" for socks or "tootsies" for feet. (Or maybe I'm the only one who calls them tootsies!)

I don't want to make everyone jealous, but where I live, our Wed (and Thur) morning movies are FREE!

And one more thing...I just looked at your zoo post. It looks like such a fun zoo! We always have a zoo pass, too, and we always try to go to the zoos in other cities that we visit. I've never been to Chicago, but one of the best zoos I've been to is Woodland Park zoo in Seattle.

I just started visiting your website and I'm not a mommy, not even close. I am an aunty though. Anyways this is in regards to squirrels in Austrailia, apparently they don't just run around. I live outside the DC area and there was this article about a cyclist who accidently ran over a squirrel and it was a hilarious article but it gave us the impression that there are no squirrels in Austrailia. In case you got around to reading this, I laughed at your question on whether or not because the author of the article questioned the same thing.

You know, I really want to come to your zoo. Our zoo sucks! It's so tiny and we can get through the whole thing in a couple hours. We still have a membership of course.Anyway, I looked through and 2 of my 3 favorite sites are already mentioned.1. http://www.mothering.com/discussions/It's the forum for Mothering Magazine2. http://askdrsears.com/Dr Sears has wonderful advice3. http://www.planetmomtshirts.com/tshirts1.htmlFun mom t-shirts :) There's even a Because I said so shirt

he'd take all the sheets of his bed, then he'd pull the mattress off the frame; he'd empty all his dresser drawers and pull down curtains; and he'd empty his toybox of all toys

I had those cordless blinds - he ruined them before I knew it - $600 in brand new blinds - out the window....

Did you say Austin is ADHD? My son is 3.5 and they are suspecting it - but won't give a diagnosis yet.... I remember you sayin gone of your boys is ADHD... Any advice on books to read - or information to help me through the next few years??? You hinted to a few other things the other day too in your writing - and I said - that is MY CHILD!!!!

The other places I tend to go to automatically are thebabywearer.com, Z recommends (http://zrecs.blogspot.com/), and threekidcircus - which I think I found through here. Oh, and I second pbskids.com! My 4 yr old is all over that!

3 sites: babycenter.com, mothering.com, and meetup.com (for the local moms group I belong to.) Also, I have suffered from migraines since high school and recently discovered that Lipton Green Tea and 2 Excedrin knock them out in 30 minutes.

I like 1) One Step Ahead Baby.com - They have lots of innovative stuff for babies & Kids; 2) Cheeky Monky.com - Tons of cool gifts, clothes, and gear for babies & parents; 3) Good for the kids - eco-friendly stuff if you are trying to go green.

http://www.spoofee.com/Features great bargains to be found online and in stores.

http://wantnot.net/This person has links to some of teh best deals online for most anything.

http://bookadventure.com/index.asp7000 books in their library... Your child reads a book of their choosing that is in this site's library, and then they can take a test on the book. They receive scores on their tests that can be redeemed for prizes on this website or prizes of your own choice based on points that you set as a requirement.

I check your blog daily for a laugh or five... but honestly, I LIVE on cafemom.com, its highly addictive... my poor hubby knows not to even bother me until I've had my morning fix...Occasionally babycenter.com and pampers.com if I'm really bored or freaking out about some random spot on my kids body... lol...

It took me over a year to get pregnant with Austin. I was beginning to freak out that I'd never have kids and I was just starting down the path of infertility treatment. I conceived the next 5 when Joe breathed on me, hung his toothbrush too close to mine, used the same toilet seat, drank out of my cup, and simply looked at me.

Happy Father's Day to Joe!

That was the FUNNIEST thing I've read in a long, long time. YOU ROCK, DAWN!

Back in the 70s in the UK, this was a common table centre piece at buffet-style gatherings.

1. Take one grapefruit, slice it in half, and wrap one half in tin foil. Do what you like with the other half, it's of no consequence.

2. Take a pot of cocktail sticks (no tree felling required), and stick a cube of hard cheese (cheddar or similar) on it, followed by a cube of tinned pineapple (since I don't think you could get fresh ones here that easily then).

3. Stick your be-cubed cocktail sticks into the tin-foil wrapped grapefruit, hedgehog style. If you want (or you run out of cheese and pineapple sitcks), make a face out of glacé cherries and stick to one end of the grapefruit using remaining cocktail sticks.

4. Stand back and admire, before someone starts eating it, or at least eating the cheese but leaving the pineapple in a pile on an abandoned paper plate behind your curtains.

Because I'm a new mom that started breastfeeding I frequent Kellymom.com, parents.com, and ivillage.com. Kellymom is a GREAT resource and the message boards and articles on the other two were good fun!

The sites I have in my "Mommy" section of my bookmarks that I visit most are:1. http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.com/motherhood_uncensored/2. www.askdrsears.com3. www.upromise.com

And I love your comment about what to do about the misbehaving kid. There was one in the grcoery store this weekend. My 6yo has a running/skipping problem and I told him to walk and there was another kid coming that was walking like a little weirdo and I said "Not like that."

I get bored cooking the same meals all the time, and this site has a handy feature where you plug in 1 - 3 ingredients you have on hand and it finds recipes that use them - http://kraftfoods.com/kfIt uses a lot of canned and boxed foods, and I know you don't use many of those but most times you can sub fresh for canned :)

Lastly, a combination of mommy/cooking blog. This lady comes up with fast easy recipes, shows you how to make them, and even includes many pictures of the process so you know exactly whats going on. Most of the time her recipes are even made simple enough that you can get the kids to help ;) http://workitmom.com/bloggers/orderingdisorder/

I really don't read many "mom" sites but here are some that I like:Celie Rivenbark's column - http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/139/index.htmlFLY Lady - www.flylady.netBirthday Party Ideas - www.birthdaypartyideas.com

First of all let me just say I LOVE YOUR BLOG! Makes me laugh everyday and glad to know there are other moms out there who experience the same stuff I do! My favorite mom sites? Really only 3? Well yours is my favorite, but you wanted 3 OTHER ones, so here you go:

Hi there :) I've been reading and loving your blog since the eBay thing (which, I guess, makes me a little like someone who became a Tolkein fan after thay made the LOTR movies... oh, wait, that's me, too. Anyway...)My top three mom blogs:1. http://familyfun.go.com/ - lots of fun craft ideas and such for little ones.2. http://www.starfall.com/ - Great online games for pre-schoolers learning to read (don't know if it counts as a mom site, but it's great for occupying kiddoes without plunking them in front of the TV.)3. http://www.5minutesformom.com/ - I did their Ultimate Blog party this year, and it was agreat way to 'meet' other mommy bloggers.Thanks again for the laughs (and for giving me a realistic glimpse of what life will be like if and when we end up with six kids!)

Hi Dawn. I read your blog often, but have never tried to leave you a comment before :-) Anyway, I was thinking about your issues with your son and ADHD meds, and knew you mentioned the diet didn't seem to be working for him anymore. My son has a lot of issues that include Asperger's and ADHD and he can not take the stimulant-based meds either. Now I know every kid is different and what works for one won't work for another, but just thought if you were desperate you might like to have something to talk to his doc about LOL. Anyway, my son takes a medication called Tenex, which is actually a high blood pressure med that doctors have found helps ADHD as well. Then he's on Abilify to help stabilize his moods, but that is needed for his other issues, not the ADHD. In the first week of taking the Tenex he was drowsy and got a bit light-headed when he stood up, but his body adjusted after that week. My child went from not even knowing how to write his name in February, to graduating kindergarten in May and being skipped into second grade. Anyway, just thought I'd tell you that, especially since your son's problem was high blood pressure with meds!

Favourite mummy sites I read.OK - not really 'mummy' sites but sites that this ' yummy mummy' like to go on when her 2 monsters are being entertained:This is the mummys site I'm addicted too:http://s10.zetaboards.com/Parenting_Plus/index/This one lets you beat up teddies & knock 'emm all over MWAHAHAhaha!:http://www.nobodyhere.com/toren.hierAnd finally THIS one lets me type in all SORTS or mean things (that I want to say to my kids) that I can think of & watch Stewie do allsorts of weird stuff:http://www.stewielive.com/

and now why i wanted to post, the question about whether you should reprimand another person's kid-OF COURSE!!! i think that's a part of "what's gone wrong with this world". adults should be able to call out a kid, that kid listen and be respectful-even if what that adult is saying isn't how their own parent would've responded. our kids have complained to us about how grandparents don't let them do things we do blah blah. my response? so what! when you are in their care, they make the rules. and certainly when a child has been acting the jerk to my kid i call them out-once in a fast food play area and had the mom run in asking what the heck i was doing-well i was doing what you should've been instead of yapping it up inside!!!! i didn't quite say that but when i explained her son's behavior she shut up pretty quick-didn't apologize for it though which explains a lot.

My other favorites arewww.recipegoldmine.com for new and different recipes to feed the monsters, andMy local county library website. They've got summer reading programs, including a program where the kids can read to earn a reduction in their library fines (that are mostly my fault), programs to attend, crafts to pick up, etc. LOVE IT!

My only indulgences on the computer are your blog, and www.cafemom.com It's like myspace for just Moms... no men allowed. If you're referring to "mom sites" that give Mommy a break, or a giggle daily, my other two sites I check daily arewww.icanhascheezburger.comand www.ihasahotdog.com

My MSN Group of about 40 mom's that have become the best of "online" friends and even a few irl friends. They know more about me than my family...

www.murraycrew.blogspot.com (I have followed the story of these Quads since their parents found out they were having quads. Talk about 4 little miracles!)www.btfe.com (I am the Boxtops coordinator for my daughter's school, mostly moms with a few dads.) SAVE BOXTOPS 4 EDUCATION for your school. OR you can send them to me! (Shameless plug!) email mamorgan@cumbytel.com

1. I'm from Chicago and I call them jammies...2. your reader with the migraines?...not sure she's going to get any real relief without getting a more standard sleeping schedule (used to get debilitating migraines 4 times per week)...add in avoiding hot dogs, fancy aged cheeses (not your standard colby or cheddar, but bleu, gorgonzola, etc), red wine, and that should help. And she'll need to see her doctor for some hard-core pain relief. If she's not pg or breastfeeding, they might be able to get her on a drug combo that helps PREVENT the migraines instead of treating the migraine after it appears. From doing the drug combo I went from 4/week to just getting one or two during the week I get my period, but if I catch it early enough, I can head-it-off with 2 or 3 advil tablets...MUCH more manageable now (and was weaned off of the drug combo). 3. Brookfield tore down the Ibex Island??? WTH? 4. Olga (walrus) died many years ago...last time I was there, they had a big ol' walrus statue dedicated to her. But I loved her too. We used to go to Brookfield several times a year. Since the National Zoo stinks, I keep trying to get back to Chicago when the weather is half-decent so I can show my kids a REAL Zoo. :)

My 3 favorite Mommy sites are www.babycenter.com www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptom-checker/DS00671 (Just to make sure I'm not being a paranoid Mommy) And last but not least....Since having a baby during Hurricane Katrina seriously made me overly paranoid....http://www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/?from=wxcenter_news (this is the tropical part of Weather Channel. It's always nice to know if a hurricane is going to blow you off the face of the earth :) )

Baby Sierra updates can be found at our Pregnancy and Birth Blog-http://360.yahoo.com/ut96gradLatest entry 5/7/08

Here are some others:www.mamasource.com - A website for moms who are seeking advice, local business referrals and input on situations they are dealing with. A fun way to connect with moms in your local community.

www.dfwareamoms.com - We believe that every mother needs a little help or support at some point and this board is a great place for moms in the Dallas area to gather for just that. We have several support forums where we can discuss any problems that might arise while raising our children, brag about our kids, share photos, form playgroups, or just talk about anything on our minds. If you are a mom in Dallas or Ft Worth or the surrounding areas, please register to join us!

If I had to chose my three favorite they would be (excluding mommy blogs becuase there are too many of them to pick my fav)1) www.lotsofkids.com 2) www.ivillage.comand last, but not least, 3) www.google.com because, come on! What mom can survie these days without google???

My top 3 are: www.knoxmoms.com (a local mom's website), http://blueyonder.typepad.com/my_weblog/ and http://blogs.parentcenter.babycenter.com/momformation/author/joyceslaton/ (actually all of the momformation bloggers are good, I just like Joyce the best). And your site of course ;)

Hey! You should do a blog on regional lingo. My mother-in-law is from New York and says "stand on line" as opposed to "stand in line". She also says "pocketbook" as opposed to "purse". I have a friend in Oregan that laughs her head off when I call the grocery cart a "buggy." I don't know about the regionality of "jammies" but I say it too and I'm in Colorado.

I don't really have 3 - I do have one that I visit every day and that is my mom's groups on meetup.com (I guess I do have 3 because I belong to 3 mom's groups!) Meetup.com is a great site because it lets you find groups in your area that have the same interest as you. The moms groups that I'm in are great because they're always scheduling events that I can take my kids to which gets me out of the house on the weekends! Otherwise it's just me & the kids & laundry all weekend (so they kids love that I'm on meetup). We've been to the Jelly Belly Factory, ice cream socials, play dates and even Mom Night Out events!

First time commenter. I have to agree yours is the only blog I ever read really, except the ones you link to! :) But I also love1) Woot.com (for the good deals!)2) icanhascheezburger.com (for the laugh breaks apart from my 2 year old)3) momadvice.com (for whatever questions I have that current day about my 2 year old) :)

Gee - only three - let's see:familyfun.go.com - I have the craft section bookmarked so I can find quick, easy crafts - made a great three dimensional puzzle for Father's Daypeapod.com - on-line grocery delivery service - I think of you every time I use it, and that story that hooked me on your blog way back last summerbabycenter/parentcenter.com - I have both a 6 year old and a 9 month old so I peruse both regularly

www.familyfun.comI check this one out for crafts, party ideas, activities & all sorts of other things.

www.friedokra4me.blogspot.comMegan's blog Fried Okra is one of my fave mamma blogs ever! She is SO funny, she tells it like is in her wonderful Southern style. her blog always makes me feel good.

www.familycorner.blogspot.comSandra is in visiting her family for the first time in 10 years so her blogging at the present time is spotty (she's in S Africa for a month) but don't let that stop you from checking her out. She posts lots about her great kids, crafting, recipes (to die for), and just mamma life in general.

Cool contest Dawn...BTW your blog was the one that started me on my path to bloggy addiction...and I love ya for it!!

1. mothering.com for crazy hippie advice like squirt breastmilk on a diaper rash and get rid of every item of plastic in your home.2.cafepress.com to find funky vintage looking tees for my kids and shirts for my 3 year old that say "unvaccinated" and "intact and proud"3. taylormadeslings.com great baby carriers, I have about 20!!

To the woman who has migraines twice a week, I have been there. I had them once every three months then once a month then three times a week and thought I was going to go crazy. I took over the counter meds, and prescription meds and nothing really worked. I was getting very depressed.I finally went to a natropathic doctor a ND and she gave me Petadolex. I take it twice a day an have only had a couple of migraines in the last four years. That is very good I think. It is all natural butterbur, with no side effects.I like reading your blog, and Pioneer Woman, and Mom 101, oh and Humble Musings.

I enjoy sites that my give me ideas of crafting projects to do with my kids, or games to play, etc....I really enjoy

www.enchantedlearning.comwww.dltk-kids.comwww.familyfun.com

I am a mom to 4, living abroad for the seven years in Switzerland. I enjoy some "english" time on your blog along with a coffee as often as I can... but as you know with kids those quiet moments are far and few between- and I am thankful for that- wouldn't change my place in the world with anyone.

If I'm standing next to my kid and he/she's acting up, please don't intervene. I'm right there. I can handle it, thank you!

If I'm not standing by my kid (which is rare and is usually caused by my attending to another child) and he/she's acting up, come and get me. I'll handle it, thank you!

If I'm not there and he/she is doing something to hurt someone else or his/herself, stop them immediately. And then come get me. I'll handle it, thank you!

If my kids and I see other kids acting up, I use it as a teachable moment for my kids (an example of what NOT to do and discussing possible consequences of their behavior), and I use the above consideration for their parent as well.

We can't all have eyes in the backs of our heads, and having more than one kid causes your head to turn in many different directions; so just because we don't see it happen doesn't mean we don't know how to parent and it doesn't mean you need to take over. Just call our attention to it and we'll take care of it. Thank you.

I already left my top 3 (antiquemommy, girltalk, recipelink), but I noticed some other people listed audreycaroline and I have to say that I love that one, too. Just be sure to have tissues near-by...her story is heartbreaking, but her mom is a wonderful example of dealing with life's most sour days with grace.

Also, I wanted to say that I'm from the South (have lived in a few different places) and we use "PJs", "Pajamas", and "jammies" interchangeably. Does it really matter anyway? I mean, come on! Get 'em on and get to bed!

Question for the next SSO: What bizarre things have you said to your kids that you never would have imagined the need to say? For example, we have been heard telling our 2 1/2 year old: "A sock is not a tissue," "No eating snow/ice that's been on the ground for five days!" and "Toothpaste does not go in your eye!"